After a stint in Canada in early August, the FIA World Rallycross Championship heads back to Europe. This weekend, 06-07 September, it will be Lohéac in France that will host the eighth round of World RX.
Lohéac is the temple of Rallycross - a circuit designed as an arena with full visibility allowed by a high mound around the circuit. The Joker Lap at this track is very long, very fast and includes a jump.
With fierce competition in the championship and the Breton circuit famous for being both fast and technical, this promises to be a spectacular round not to be missed, especially since several stars will be in the paddock aiming for victory in France.
One of the biggest names competing at Lohéac is American Gymkhana star Ken Block, who makes his return to World RX full of confidence after securing a podium spot earlier this year at the third round of the championship in Hell, Norway.
Block will be joined by 36 other Supercar drivers including championship leader Petter Solberg, who finished as runner-up at Lohéac last year and is a firm favourite to win World RX of France.
Second in the driver standings, following a consistent points-scoring approach this season, is Volkswagen Marklund driver Topi Heikkinen. Meanwhile, the Ford Olsbergs MSE team is certain to challenge VW’s quest for the teams’ championship trophy, with superstar drivers Reinis Nitiss and Andreas Bakkerud currently third and fourth in the World RX standings. Both drivers have already won a round each so far this season and Bakkerud also won last year’s rallycross event at Lohéac, beating the likes of nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb.
Eager to take a win in France is also Team Peugeot-Hansen. Respectively sixth and seventh in the World RX standings, reigning European Rallycross Champion Timur Timerzyanov and Timmy Hansen will be hungry to take this victory and meet the expectations of a public eager to see the Peugeot 280 WRX shine at home.
Marketing Communications Manager for Cooper Tire Europe, Sarah McRoberts, said, “The French round of World Rallycross is expected to be well attended this weekend, and there will no doubt be a fantastic atmosphere at the circuit as the French are so passionate about their rallycross. As we get closer to the end of the season, the competition gets even more thrilling to watch.”
Britain's David Binks will replace Jacques Villeneuve in the Albatec Racing prepared Peugeot 208 Supercar as a result of Villeneuve's F1 commentating commitments. World RX also sees its first Middle Eastern entry of the year as Lebanese driver Nabil Karam will compete in a Citroën DS 3 Supercar.
The ninth round of the World Rallycross Championship will take the contenders to Germany on 20-21 September for a true tarmac round at Estering racing circuit.
